What's Going On?

What is going on? We have children being killed in places that are supposed to be deemed safe, our black men being killed day in and day out, and grade schoolers committing suicide due to bullying. These times you and I are living in will not be remembered fondly. We are the country that is supposed to help the poor, the weak, the refugee, and the hungry, what happened to that? Now we are building walls, spewing hate rhetoric, not holding ourselves accountable when we have done wrong. Do you remember the days when you did something wrong you were actually afraid of the teacher calling home? I do. Nowadays kids taunt their teacher's and know they can go home and tell a tall lie with no repercussions. When did all this become normal? I am not going to blame this all on "45" but he definitely has done nothing to help it and everything to add fire to an already rapidly burning flame. Everyday on the news there is one tragedy after the next. Are we wrong for becoming numb to it? Is it just horrible that we come expect lies and mistruths? We should not allow this to become the norm. We must not live in complacency and act as if none of this affects us as long as it doesn't touch our home and personal lives. What if it does? What would you do? Wouldn't you like the very same empathy that you lack to be felt for you in your time of sadness an grief?`

Economically the playing field for my people (black people) has never been equal, but in today's society it couldn't be more far a part. I cant even go to the hospital without being in a frantic state of worry over the costs up front and the bill afterwards. I have been a contributing, working, tax paying citizen since the day I was legally allowed to be, yet someone who does not work and is very much able to receives cheap or free housing, free Medical insurance in the form of Medicaid if they have children (which most do), and to add the sprinkles on top receive Food Stamps up to 900+ dollars a month. My tax dollars pay for that yet I pay full rent, A Co-Pay every single time I am sick or ill, and if there is leftovers to put the basic essential food items into my refrigerator that's a good  pay period. When will the playing field become equal? When will we stop stepping upon one another and instead reach out an honest hand? What has happened to communities coming together to help a neighbor on hard times? Its all lost and gone with this undeniably selfish world and mindset a lot pf people live in. Its been what I like to call "The generation of selfishness", Yes, I am a millennial born in good ol' 1984, I grew up in the 90's and I am grateful and thankful that I did. I may not have had everything I wanted, hell, we grew up barely having everything we needed, but because of that I am that much more appreciative of everything I have. I like to work hard, I enjoy earning my way, and knowing that my growth as an African American woman is all due to my hard work, resilience, and determination.

I don't mind helping others if I can. But some see "help" only in the form of money. There are many other ways you could be of service to one person or an entire community. There are food drives everywhere all year long, donate time to a cause that you are passionate about, offer a talent or skill to a non-profit that may need it. Money is the root to all evil and it does not make the world go around. Money does not translate into happiness and guaranteed peace. Celebrities and those among the rich and famous may not face the same economical woes you and I do, but they will all face the same inevitable fate of death as all living beings do. I am not saying this to be morbid, I am only shining a much needed light on a world that may not see its own reflection.